Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Day, a siren is sounded in the evening and in the morning, during which time virtually the en-
tire nation stands at silent attention. Only Arabs, for political reasons, and most Haredim, who
say that reading religious texts is a more Jewish way of honoring the dead, do not participate.
A national commemoration ceremony is held at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, and each com-
munity holds its own memorial service for members who have given their lives. People often
attend communal sing-alongs, where they sing sad nationalist songs attesting to the struggle
for existence and commemorating sacrifi ces and loss.
During the day, it has become traditional to visit the graves of fallen soldiers at the national
military cemetery, where there is another national memorial service. At the end of this day,
after the sun sets, another national ceremony is held, and then celebrations erupt as people
move from mourning the dead to honoring Independence Day.
SOCIAL TRENDS AND INFLUENCES: DECLINING COLLECTIVISM
Israeli society is open to change and more readily imports foreign ideas and trends than other
countries do. On the whole, Israelis welcome exposure to new cultural infl uences, for they are
not afraid of jeopardizing their own identity, especially since cultural elements are adapted to
the Israeli vision. Over time, the socialist and collectivist approach, so hegemonic during the
country's early years, has declined signifi cantly, however, to be replaced with a more market-
based, individualistic approach to the organization of society.
The degree of change should not be exaggerated. Israeli society has strongly established
patterns and features that rest on the country's experiences and unique aspects. Predictions of
dramatic alterations have been repeatedly proven wrong or overstated. Many of these trends
are normal ones for countries that have gone from the fl ux of being established to a more
routine stability.
Israeli society is characterized by a general decline in the primacy of the collective. Previously
strong institutions in Israeli life such as political party affi liation, the Histadrut trade union
federation, and even the army have all been affected by this trend. Ideological Zionism is also of
less interest, in large part because its main goals have been fulfi lled. Socialism is seen, without
bitterness or controversy, as a system that was simply necessary at an earlier stage but not today.
Many of the changes affecting Israel are typical of those happening elsewhere in the West-
ern world. Supermarket chains and malls with national and international retailers are replac-
ing neighborhood grocery stores (
mekollet
) and outdoor markets (
shuk
). The availability of
affordable plane travel, the Internet, and the communications revolution in general have also
had a huge effect — augmented in Israel by Israelis' facility with languages and technology. For
many years, Israel's society was shaped by geographical constraints due to neighbors' hostility.
Now, Israel has gone from a large degree of isolation to easy or instantaneous interaction with
the world.
These developments do not mean that localisms have vanished. Many cities still boast
thriving shuks, with stalls operated by the same families that have run them for generations.
Still, even these traditional Middle Eastern shopping places are being gentrifi ed. In Jerusa-
lem, for example, expensive designer shops are squeezed in between the vegetable stands
and spice booths of Jerusalem's traditional open air market. The change can be attributed to
globalization — specifi cally Americanization, some would say.
